Senate Resolution No. 3703

BY: Senator GOLDEN

HONORING Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister Mary
McCarrick upon the occasion of their designation for
special recognition by the New York State Council of
Catholic Charities Directors

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister Mary McCarrick have given not
only of their time and energies but also of their competence,
intelligence and leadership, and consequently have been designated for
special honor; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Emmie Glynn
Ryan and Sister Mary McCarrick upon the occasion of their designation
for special recognition by the New York State Council of Catholic
Charities Directors, to be celebrated at its Annual Reception on Monday,
February 5, 2018, at the Renaissance Hotel, Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, Emmie Glynn Ryan will receive the Vincenza DeFazio Award
for outstanding contributions to the work of New York State Council of
Catholic Charities Directors; Sister Mary McCarrick will receive the
Bishop Francis J. Mugavero Award for outstanding contributions to the
work of charity and social justice; and

WHEREAS, Emmie Glynn Ryan is a native of Galway, Ireland, where she
was admitted to the bar and practiced law for several years before
emigrating to England and practicing law in London; and

WHEREAS, Upon leaving her firm in London, Emmie Glynn Ryan began
working with orphans and adults suffering from mental health problems in
Romania before emigrating to New York in 1991, where she worked two jobs
and volunteered to assist victims of domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, Emmie Glynn Ryan passed the New York State bar exam in
1995, and two years later, came to Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens as
director of legal affairs, eventually rising to her current position of
general counsel, chief corporate compliance officer and senior vice
president; and

WHEREAS, A resident of Manhattan, Emmie Glynn Ryan serves as a
member of the Criminal Justice Committee of the New York State Catholic
Conference and sits on numerous not-for-profit boards; and

WHEREAS, Sister Mary McCarrick, OSF, the retiring diocesan director
of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, began her religious life serving the
poor in Colorado and Mexico; after receiving her Master of Social Work
degree from the Worden School of Social Work in San Antonio, she went on
to complete post-graduate work at the University of Rochester; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of her studies, Sister Mary McCarrick
joined Catholic Charities in the 1980s, serving families dealing with

issues such as domestic violence and sexual abuse; she later became
executive director of Benedict House, a hospice for people with
HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, following a stint as the superior of her
congregation, Sister Mary McCarrick was appointed Diocesan Director of
Catholic Charities of Buffalo by then-Bishop Edward U. Kmiec; and

WHEREAS, As co-vice president of the organization and head of its
annual appeal, Sister Mary strengthened the Board of Trustees, engaged
in a strategic planning process, and proved a deft fundraiser; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister
Mary McCarrick have displayed throughout their lives; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister Mary McCarrick, that future generations may
know and appreciate their admirable character, their many benevolent
deeds, and the respect and esteem in which they are held by their peers;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister Mary McCarrick upon the occasion of
their designation for special recognition by the New York State Council
of Catholic Charities Directors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Emmie Glynn Ryan and Sister Mary McCarrick.